Time

I've been back in the workforce for 4 months now.I was ready to get back in the swing of things. While I was off, I took for granted my free time. I got to take care of my father as he withered away as Cancer took his life only 1 month later. The next 3 months I lived with my mother helping my sister nurse my mother back to health after his death.
After that, I was able to bike ride, motorcycle ride, visit my kids, see my grandkids, and workout whenever I wanted.Life was so fun, except for the fact that I didn't have a job. Lor carried the financial load as I struggled to find work.
Then my father-in-law got sick. He moved in with us.I cared for him for 3 months full time while Lor worked. I got to know my father in law rather well during this time.
Working on the kids homes was a definite highlight of my time off. It is time I will always remember.
As my mom said, "After 2 years of what you've been through, you deserve to get a job." This was probably my favorite 2 years of my life.I actually felt like I was doing what God had planned for me.
Well, I got the job. I forgot how time consuming work is. I have no time to read, bike ride or anything that I took for granted during my time off work. I'm starting to ask myself the question Do I live to work? or do I work to live?
I guess I waste as much time as anybody, but I've come to realize how precious time is. In 2012 I want to:
-see my children more
-see my grandkids more
-see my wife more (vacation time)
-read more
-volunteer more
-work out more+eat less
I really want to learn to use my time wisely right after I take a nice long nap.
Blessings and Happy New Year
Steg

CD's- How are your Returns?

CD's, 401K's, and IRA's seem to consume much of my time lately. The returns I am getting are downright pitiful.Yet I continue to try to find a way to change their results. It's not going that well.Looking around , it appears that most people to be driven by the almighty dollar. I know,Iknow, we do need money to exist in this world, but after all it's just paper. I used to make a lot more money, had a bigger 401K account, but was I truely happy? I was consumed by making money, raising kids, college funds and vacation funds, reinvesting CD's on and on.Not that these are bad things, but I lost my true focus on life.
A better investment that always pays is Christ's love for us. No matter how bad the market is,his love and grace is always there. As we struggle to lead a christian life(our investment), we always get a good return(God's love and grace).
So rather than getting down and out with todays ugly world,I choose to strive to live a christian life and enjoying Christ's dividends.
I'm finally getting job nibbles and will follow where I am lead. I'll keep you posted
How are your returns on your Christ Deposits?
Blssings,
Steg

Feeling Bad

The past few days I have felt like a zombie. Head congestion. headache. sore throat,Coughing out of control, occasional gagging, low grade fever are a few of my symptoms.
For the past three years, either Lori or myself hhave gotten really bad colds the week after hosting middle schoolers for a week during SOS. Coincidence, maybe, but I'm wondering if our resistance is down from the lack of sleep that week. On the otherhand, we all know teenagers. One minute they're picking their noses and the next moment their hand is buried in the popcorn bowl. Whatever the cause, it really has me down.Like all sicknesses, the during the night is the worse part of the day..........BTW ..I just dry heaved 15 times in a row. My sinuses seem to dump in my throat way too fast to cough and break it up.I hate to call a doctor on a holiday weekend so I'll just man-up for another day. I admit I am a baby when I am sick.
Pass the coughdrops and a puke bag.

Blessings,
Steg

Life in the Fast Lane

Life to me, as an old guy, I thought was going to slow down. That is not the case. Actually, it has sped up. I find myself in chase mode most of the time. I now have more time on my hands with the kids gone and being out of work, but I always have something needing my attention. Where have the days gone where I would hop on my motorcyle and take a 2 hour ride? I haven't been bicycling all day yet this year. I haven't taken any 8 mile walks at Miami Whitewater this year. We haven't camped but once this year.----Time---
This makes me ask myself. Has time sped up or have I slowed down? Have my priorities changed that much? Were they changed for the better or for the worse? Has my life improved or declined? Who actually likes Lebron anyway? I need to rethink the ways that I spend my time.Do I pray enough? Do I read the bible enough? Do I volunteer enough? Am I a good husband? father? grandfather? neighbor? sparring partner?
I need to take control of time and make it work the way I choose. I'm wasting too much time on this computer-thats for sure.
I'm going to modify my life plan. Are you?

Blessings
Steg

Feeling Wierd

Ok, I've been in a wierd mood lately.Still without a job, I'm starting to notice people looking at me differently. They give me the bowing the head, batting the eyes thing. This doesn't make me feel any better. It just pisses me off. I'm a man-treat me like one.Yes ,I want a job, more than you can imagine but, don't give me pity-just treat me like everybody else. I hear you. You're saying "He's getting sensitive after 2 years of unemployment". Actually ,I am getting hardened on how the world operates and looks at old farts like me. I'm happy so do me a favor-don't piss on my parade.Remember this--if you mess with the bull, eventually you will get the horn.

Peace
Steg

I'm Being Tested

Lately, I've been busy juggling all sorts of projects. I think I've been doing a fairly decent job. I feel like I'm being tested by God. I've been feeling it as well as hearing from him in my prayer time. Every time I stumble or get short with somebody, I find myself feeling really unsure if I am doing what God has planned for me.I'm not having a problem listening. My problem is worrying about what others think.This should be the last of my concerns. I know the only thing that matters is what God thinks of my life.
I guess when it comes down to it, my life is no different than anyone else's. We all have doubts and struggles that we deal with daily, but I sometimes get too busy that I start second guessing myself.
Like I always told my kids, if you do your best, thats all that can be expected of us. God doesn't put anything on us that he can't handle.
I guess being tested by God is a good thing- That means that he is in my life . I love tests now.

Blessings
Steg

My 3 BFF'S

I know it sounds corny, but you three individuals are my best friends.You keep me on my toes. Had it not been for you guys, I wouldn't know how to use a computer.I wouldn't have anyone to laugh at my jokes. I just love hanging out with you guys. You just make my heart smile.I enjoy 1 on 1 time as well as group time with you. It is so neat as a father to see each of your kids grow up into responsible adults. I am so happy to be part of your lives. This is something in the past that I have taken for granted , but recently I realized this is a privelege and not a given. As I grow older , I am starting to look in the rear view mirror as to what changes I still need to make in my life, and although there are many, I still enjoy the view.
Thank you kids for making me proud. I love you guys so much. No, I don't have some serious disease, I just wanted to put this out there. Please continue making a difference in this ugly world. God has your back, and so do I.

Blessings
Daddy Steg

14 Years of Love- Our Minpin

This 4lb. minpin has been a member of our family for 14 years now. She's almost blind and deaf, but still captures our hearts with her courage and snuggle up ways. She sleeps most of the day except for pee breaks. Yes she is still comtinent.I just thought I owed her a tribute. Here's to Zoey Stegman. You will always be loved,(She's not dead.) I thought it would be easier to write this while she is still alive and well



Blessings
Steg

Romans 12-

I have decided to read Romans 12 every morning before getting out of bed for the next 7 days. It addresses many things that I need to work on in my everyday life.

Romans 12 (The Message)

Romans 12
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.


The Message (MSG)

Blessings Steg

Winter Wonderland: Jason Mraz

This relaxes me

Blessings
Steg

Goodbye Holidays

Man am I glad these days are over.I can do without this for another year.I'm going to eat right for the next year.Come on Fam--I need encouragement on this.

Blessings,
Steg

2010-The Steg 4

2010 was a tough year for me personally.In January, Joel Michael Stegman was born as a 4th generation Stegman.Preceeded by great grandfather Don,grandpa Mark, and father Josh were all here to welcome into the family.He is destined to be a great family leader.What a great addition he is as the #2 grandchild. He's a great compliment to his sister Lydia.
In February , the clouds darkened as my father was found to have cancer in virtually every organ in his body. !0 years earlier, he was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and given 2-3 months to live. With a year of intense therapy, he extended his life 10 years(thru the grace of God).My sister and I cared for him in the hospital, at home in hospice and back in the hospital for the next 30 days.Not knowing where my dad was in his faith was agonizing.I was afraid to upset him. 2 days prior to death, The family gathered at his bedside and Zak sang worship songs as we all joined in.The last form of communication my dad made with us was a smile and a thumbs up to Zak as he played.This tore me up.I then felt that he saw and felt God(at least I hope so). He died 2 days later. I spent the next 2 months living with my mother and sister helping get mom back on her feet. Her health drastically declined but eventually was restored.
The month of June was spent with Lori. We went to Ichthus and served there with 20 teenagers from VCC. It was a great time with good music. It was great being around the younger kids and interacting with them,It was a great 4 days of camping.
Later that month, we did SOS, hosting 6 boys at our home for a week.Every day there were different outreaches that I helped facilitate.This is my favorite time of the year.Hearing Zak lead worship every day of this week is iceing on the cake.
Chloe, Krissy's dog joined the family.She will make a great playmate for ollie.
The month of july was spent cutting my mom's, our's and the in-laws lawns.I also babysat Ollie and Chloe while Krissy vacationed in Maine and had a seminar to attend for school.
In August Zak and CC went to Ireland on a business/vacation trip. They were gone 3 weeks and were missed by all.
In September, Zak and CC announced that a baby Wolfgang was on the way.#3 wow.
Started October with me and Jessie getting older. Me -55, Jessie-??.haha
We had our first and hopefully many more to come camping trip at 3 Trees. It was a great time hiking, campfires and s'mores.
November brought new employment to Josh. This was a very exciting time for all of us. (answered prayer). Krissy carved another notch in the tree with a birthday celebration.
Lori and I attended the Greenhills Lighting of the trees with Krissy. Ken Riley said he was looking for our annual video.
Wally(Lori's dad) joined us in our home to recover from a fall and the family managed to complete our 2010 christmas video before Zak and CC headed to Florida forn the holidays.
It has been a busy year for all. God has blesed us with good health and we thank him for that.I want to thank my family and friends for all the love and support given me this year.

As Lyd Says
Love You,Boingy

Steg